Editing Amazon (company) (section)

== Criticism ==
{{Main|Criticism of Amazon}}

[[File:Anti-Amazon sticker.jpg|thumb|A sticker expressing an anti-Amazon message is pictured on the back of a street sign in Seattle]]Amazon has attracted criticism for its actions, including: supplying law enforcement with facial recognition surveillance tools;<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/05/22/amazon-is-selling-facial-recognition-to-law-enforcement-for-a-fistful-of-dollars/|title=Amazon is selling facial recognition to law enforcement — for a fistful of dollars|date=May 22, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=October 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015001022/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/05/22/amazon-is-selling-facial-recognition-to-law-enforcement-for-a-fistful-of-dollars/|url-status=live}}</ref> forming cloud computing partnerships with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]];<ref name="vanity-fair">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/has-bezos-become-more-powerful-in-dc-than-trump|title='Everybody immediately knew that it was for Amazon': Has Bezos become more powerful in DC than Trump?|first=May|last=Jeong|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=August 13, 2018|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821034524/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/has-bezos-become-more-powerful-in-dc-than-trump|url-status=live}}</ref> leading customers away from bookshops;<ref>{{cite news |title=Amazon Lure's Shoppers Away from Stores |first=Nick |last=Leiber |url=http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2011/12/amazon_turns_shops_into_showrooms_with_new_app.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208221628/http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2011/12/amazon_turns_shops_into_showrooms_with_new_app.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2011 |newspaper=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> adversely impacting the environment;<ref name="Cavaillez">{{cite news |author=Jean-Philippe Cavaillez |date=March 5, 2019 |title=Plateforme logistique Amazon : bras de fer dans l'Est lyonnais |language=fr |page=10 |newspaper=[[Le Progrès]] |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/rhone-69-edition-lyon-metropole/2019/03/05/plateforme-logistique-amazon-bras-de-fer-dans-l-est-lyonnais |access-date=March 7, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024154429/https://www.leprogres.fr/rhone-69-edition-lyon-metropole/2019/03/05/plateforme-logistique-amazon-bras-de-fer-dans-l-est-lyonnais |url-status=live }}</ref> placing a low priority on warehouse conditions for workers;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jay |last2=Alcantara |first2=Chris |title=Amazon warehouse workers suffer serious injuries at higher rates than other firms |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/01/amazon-osha-injury-rate/ |access-date=April 11, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 1, 2021 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331164313/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/01/amazon-osha-injury-rate/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chakrabortty |first=Aditya |date=2024-11-22 |title=Chronic pain and ravaged mental health: this is the brutal reality of Britain's new working class |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/22/britain-working-class-pain-mental-health |work=The Guardian |language= |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> actively opposing unionization efforts;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Matsakis |first1=Louise |title=Why Amazon Really Raised Its Minimum Wage to $15 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/why-amazon-really-raised-minimum-wage/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=June 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030030200/https://www.wired.com/story/why-amazon-really-raised-minimum-wage/ |url-status=live }}</ref> remotely deleting content purchased by Amazon Kindle users; taking public subsidies; seeking to patent its [[1-Click]] technology; engaging in anti-competitive actions and [[price discrimination]];<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Khan |first=Lina |date=January 2017 |title=Amazon's Antitrust Paradox |url=https://www.yalelawjournal.org/note/amazons-antitrust-paradox |url-status=live |journal=Yale Law Journal |volume=126 |issue=3 |pages=564–907 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405144903/http://www.yalelawjournal.org/note/amazons-antitrust-paradox |archive-date=April 5, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="baum">{{cite news |last1=Baum |first1=Andrew |title=Amazon Wins Ruling on Results for Searches on Brands It Doesn't Sell |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/amazon-wins-ruling-results-searches-brands-it-doesn-t-sell |access-date=December 21, 2015 |work=The National Law Review |publisher=Foley & Lardner |date=October 23, 2015 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055253/https://www.natlawreview.com/article/amazon-wins-ruling-results-searches-brands-it-doesn-t-sell |url-status=live }}</ref> and reclassifying [[LGBTQ]] books as adult content.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Slatterly |first=Brennon |title=Amazon 'Glitch' Yanks Sales Rank of Hundreds of LGBT Books |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/162996/amazon_glitch_yanks_sales_rank_of_hundreds_of_lgbt_books.html |magazine=[[PC World]] |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728223422/http://www.pcworld.com/article/162996/amazon_glitch_yanks_sales_rank_of_hundreds_of_lgbt_books.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Paul |title=Amazon: 'Glitch' caused gay censorship error |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/14/amazon.gay.lesbian.ranking/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 17, 2020 |date=April 14, 2009 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024213304/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/14/amazon.gay.lesbian.ranking/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Criticism has also concerned various decisions over whether to censor or publish content such as the [[WikiLeaks]] website, works containing [[Defamation|libel]], anti-LGBT merchandise, and material facilitating [[dog fighting]], [[cockfighting]], or [[pedophilia|pedophile]] activities. An article published by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' in the wake of social media website [[Parler]]'s termination of service by Amazon Web Service highlights the power companies like Amazon now have over the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/5929888/amazon-parler-aws/|title=Why Amazon's Move to Drop Parler Is a Big Deal for the Future of the Internet|author=Alex Fitzpatrick|date=2021-01-21|accessdate=2023-11-26|work=[[Time Magazine]]|archive-date=November 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128104146/http://time.com/5929888/amazon-parler-aws/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2011, Amazon faced a backlash from small businesses for running a one-day deal to promote its new Price Check app. Shoppers who used the app to check prices in a brick-and-mortar store were offered a 5% discount to purchase the same item from Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/12/20/groupon-launches-anti-amazon-promotion-of-sorts/|title=Groupon Launches Anti-Amazon Promotion of Sorts|last=Raice|first=Shayndi|date=December 20, 2011|website=WSJ|language=en-US|access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725044624/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/12/20/groupon-launches-anti-amazon-promotion-of-sorts/|url-status=live}}</ref> Companies like [[Groupon]], [[eBay]] and Taap have countered Amazon's promotion by offering $10 off from their products.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internetretailer.com/commentary/2011/12/22/while-some-still-cry-others-fight-back |title=Focus on Mobile Commerce – While some still cry, others fight back |work=Internet Retailer |access-date=February 1, 2012 |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327071349/https://www.internetretailer.com/commentary/2011/12/22/while-some-still-cry-others-fight-back |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/2011/12/20/what-can-retailers-learn-from-amazon-groupon-and-ebay |title=What can retailers learn from Amazon, Groupon and eBay? – Mobile Commerce Daily – Multichannel retail support |work=Mobile Commerce Daily |date=December 20, 2011 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207203932/http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/2011/12/20/what-can-retailers-learn-from-amazon-groupon-and-ebay |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The company has also faced accusations of putting undue pressure on suppliers to maintain and extend its profitability. One effort to squeeze the most vulnerable book publishers was known within the company as the Gazelle Project, after Bezos suggested, according to [[Brad Stone (journalist)|Brad Stone]], "that Amazon should approach these small publishers the way a cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle."<ref name="New Yorker"/> In July 2014, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] launched a lawsuit against the company alleging it was promoting in-app purchases to children, which were being transacted without parental consent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Complaint, Federal Trade Commission v. Amazon.com, Inc. |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/FGNCSIQ/Federal_Trade_Commission_v_Amazoncom_Inc__wawdce-14-01038__0001.0.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/FGNCSIQ/Federal_Trade_Commission_v_Amazoncom_Inc__wawdce-14-01038__0001.0.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=PacerMonitor |access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref> In 2019, Amazon banned selling [[Skin whitening|skin-lightening]] products after pushback from [[Minnesota]] health and [[Environmental movement|environmental activists.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-skin-lightening-products-with-high-mercury-levels/|title=Amazon pulls "racist" skin-lightening products|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=November 22, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725042954/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-skin-lightening-products-with-high-mercury-levels/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, a lawsuit filed by state attorney-general [[Letitia James]] was dismissed by the New York state court of appeals.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Amazon.com wins dismissal of NY attorney general lawsuit over worker safety |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/appeals-court-dismisses-new-york-lawsuit-against-amazoncom-over-worker-safety-2022-05-10/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510155152/https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/appeals-court-dismisses-new-york-lawsuit-against-amazoncom-over-worker-safety-2022-05-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Amazon faced criticism for complying, under pressure from the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden Administration]], to "reduce the visibility” of books critical of the [[COVID-19 vaccine]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Parker |date=2024-02-08 |title=The Amazon Files: Biden likes banning books too, you hypocrites - Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/2845323/the-amazon-files-biden-likes-banning-books-too-you-hypocrites/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214162534/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/2845323/the-amazon-files-biden-likes-banning-books-too-you-hypocrites/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=Biden administration pressured Amazon to censor books that questioned COVID vaccines - Washington Times |website=[[The Washington Times]] |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/5/biden-administration-pressured-amazon-censure-book/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213074945/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/5/biden-administration-pressured-amazon-censure-book/ |archive-date=February 13, 2024 }}</ref> which was revealed after Rep. [[Jim Jordan]] (acting on behalf of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]) subpoenaed emails between the company and the Biden Administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jim |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Amazon Files Thread |url=https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/1754637204146581783 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214162533/https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/1754637204146581783 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Amazon Prime van blocking bike lane at CityCenterDC.jpg|thumb|upright|An Amazon Prime truck blocking a bike lane in Washington, D.C.]]
Amazon Prime has been criticized for its vehicles systemically [[double parking]], blocking [[bike lane]]s, and otherwise violating traffic laws while dropping off packages, contributing to [[traffic congestion]] and endangering other road users.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haag |first1=Matthew |last2=Hu |first2=Winnie |title=1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/nyregion/nyc-amazon-delivery.html |access-date=13 December 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 27, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dungca |first1=Nicole |title=Seeing Red: Ride-hailing, deliveries add traffic to Boston's crowded streets |url=https://apps.bostonglobe.com/metro/investigations/spotlight/2019/11/21/seeing-red/convenience-culture-makes-traffic-worse/ |access-date=13 December 2024 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 21, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergmann |first1=Joy |title=Locals Decry 'Total Madness' of Delivery Truck Parking; Proposed City Council Bill May Help |url=https://www.westsiderag.com/2019/01/28/locals-decry-total-madness-of-delivery-truck-parking-proposed-city-council-bill-may-help |access-date=13 December 2024 |work=West Side Rag |date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Caldwell |first1=Christopher |title=Something Has Changed on City Streets, and Amazon Is to Blame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/opinion/amazon-delivery-trucks-urban-planning.html |access-date=13 December 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=17 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Jane Friedman<ref name="janefriedman/books">{{cite web |title=Books by Jane Friedman |url=https://janefriedman.com/books/ |website=Jane Friedman .com |access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810113239/https://janefriedman.com/books/ |url-status=live }}</ref> discovered six listings of books fraudulently using her name, on Amazon and [[Goodreads]]. Amazon and Goodreads resisted removing the fraudulent titles until the author's complaints went viral on social media, in a blog post titled "I Would Rather See My Books Get Pirated Than This (Or: Why Goodreads and Amazon Are Becoming Dumpster Fires)."<ref name="janefriedman/rather-my-books-pirated">{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Jane |title=I Would Rather See My Books Get Pirated Than This (Or: Why Goodreads and Amazon Are Becoming Dumpster Fires) |url=https://janefriedman.com/i-would-rather-see-my-books-pirated/ |website=Jane Friedman |access-date=August 9, 2023 |date=August 7, 2023 |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809003245/https://janefriedman.com/i-would-rather-see-my-books-pirated/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="arstechnica/2023/08/ai-generated-counterfeit-books-amazon">{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Benj |title=Author discovers AI-generated counterfeit books written in her name on Amazon |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/08/author-discovers-ai-generated-counterfeit-books-written-in-her-name-on-amazon/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |work=Ars Technica |date=August 8, 2023 |language=en-us |archive-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808231428/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/08/author-discovers-ai-generated-counterfeit-books-written-in-her-name-on-amazon/ |url-status=live }}<!-- https://www.thedailybeast.com/author-jane-friedman-finds-ai-fakes-being-sold-under-her-name-on-amazon  https://gizmodo.com/amazon-jane-friedman-ai-generated-books-removed-1850718989  https://www.thestreet.com/technology/author-levels-troubling-new-accusation-at-amazons-publishing-practices --></ref><ref name="vice/v7b774">{{cite web |last1=Roscoe |first1=Jules |title=AI-Generated Books of Nonsense Are All Over Amazon's Bestseller Lists |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ai-generated-books-of-nonsense-are-all-over-amazons-bestseller-lists/ |website=Vice |access-date=August 9, 2023 |language=en |date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808123916/https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7b774/ai-generated-books-of-nonsense-are-all-over-amazons-bestseller-lists |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost/amazon-goodreads">{{cite news |last1=O'Donovan |first1=Caroline |title=Goodreads was the future of book reviews. Then Amazon bought it. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/01/amazon-goodreads-elizabeth-gilbert/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=July 2, 2023 |archive-date=August 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828145218/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/01/amazon-goodreads-elizabeth-gilbert/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, following years of criticism for providing law enforcement footage in the custody of [[Ring (company)|Ring]] (a home security company owned by Amazon) without a warrant, Ring has halted this practice.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-27 |title=Ring will no longer allow police to request users' doorbell camera footage : NPR |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1226942087/ring-will-no-longer-allow-police-to-request-users-doorbell-camera-footage |access-date=2024-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127172246/https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1226942087/ring-will-no-longer-allow-police-to-request-users-doorbell-camera-footage |archive-date=January 27, 2024 }}</ref> It received cautious praise from privacy-focused organizations such as the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] for this change.<ref name="auto4"/>

In February 2025, [[Sky UK|Sky]] accused Amazon of not doing enough to prevent the piracy of its sports rights via “jailbroken” Fire Sticks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalleres |first=Frank |date=2025-02-26 |title=Sky accuses Amazon of failing to prevent piracy on Fire Sticks |url=https://www.cityam.com/sky-accuses-amazon-of-failing-to-prevent-piracy-on-fire-sticks/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref>